Our History
About the Ministry
Abandonment of children is not a new problem to this earth, but its devastating effects are startling in whatever decade you find them. Ramona Petrella Cummings first learned of this need in Romania in 2002. In 2003, she was led to move to Oradea, Romania and work in an orphanage for the Christian, non-profit Children In The Son. There the full impact of the issues for abandoned children hit her as she started working in the local pediatric hospital too.
Horrible conditions reined in this hospital with children never being bathed, touched with love or stimulated in any way. Babies were fed by propping large glass bottles full of carrot juice or a cream of wheat mixture. Malnutrition was common. Children were wasting away before her eyes and the emptiness in their eyes pierced her soul.
She was allowed to work with some of the abandoned babies but not given any of the normal infant supplies to use. Babies' diapers were changed three times a day and many older children were tied to their cribs so they would not crawl out. Ramona and some friends started purchasing diapers and wipes, lotion and shampoo to use on the babies.
Soon Ramona wrote to her supporters and after explaining the situation to them was amazed at the generous donations that were sent. When Ramona left Romania to return home there was enough money to buy supplies for six months. However, it was a temporary fix.
Soon Ramona was speaking at several churches and organizations raising money for the children at the Pediatric Hospital. Other foundations in Romania became more involved and started paying women to care for the abandoned babies as maternal assistants.
Today, Project Hope for the Children supplies one hospital in Sibiu and has a volunteer Nurse Liaison there. PHFTC also sponsors and collaborates with several other NGO's by supplying needful items for their various projects. We are proud to provide food, hygiene products, and academic materials for afterschool programs, group homes for orphaned children, and a food co-op for needy families. The ministry sponsors a part time Director of Outreach that assists with the day to day operations in Romania.
Summer 2014 brought Project Hope for the Children into non profit-hood as a 501c3. All donations can be made to Project Hope for the Children Inc, 6983 Chase Rd, Fabius, NY 13063 or sent via PayPal and you can now receive a tax donation receipt at the the end of the year.
Ramona continues to travel to Oradea once a year to personally purchase the bulk of the supplies and maintain ties to the people at the hospital and other foundations. She likes nothing better than holding and cuddling the precious souls that they have the blessing of serving.
Recently, Project Hope for the Children has expanded to the island of Puerto Rico. There are many children in the care of Social Services there that are missing out on the love and care of parents, quality medical care, and education that is appropriate for their needs.
PHFTC is trying to assist with those needs by sponsoring tuition costs at a local Christian school for the deaf for hearing impaired children, purchasing basic baby and children's essential items for group homes and a local pediatric hospital, and supporting an afterschool program.
Our goal is to support at risk children and parentless children grow up feeling loved and secure so they can break the cycle of abandonment and become independent adults.
FAQ
In Eastern Europe near Hungary, Ukraine, Croatia and the Black Sea.
Romania was a communist country for many years and encouraged their people to have many children. When parents could not support their growing families, the government staffed orphanages to house "extra" children. The habit has continued into this millenia. The thought is if I can't do it then the government will!
Roma Gypsies quite frequently have several children and take their babies to the hospital- some out of concern and hope that the child will be taken better care of and some out of sheer negligence.
Single mothers do not have the same financial advantages there as in the States and cannot afford to keep their children.
No, international adoptions by non-Romanians have been banned for several years now. In 2010 there were 62,000 orphans in Romania~ there were 0 adoptions!
Most abandoned babies are of some type of Roma (Gypsy) descent. Many Romanians are prejudiced against the Roma because of their lifestyle. They don't want to take the chance of raising a child only to have them turn out like their "parents".
Although adoptions are free in Romania, households must meet financial standards that are too high for an average Romanian. Many Romanians will foster, but are restricted from adopting.
Ramona believes that caring for the fatherless is a command close to the Lord's heart. (James 1:27) She has seen children that have suffered during the first couple years of their life and the affects it will have on them forever. She has also seen the difference that love, stimulation, and nutritious food has on the children. Everyone deserves a chance!